no longer is the deal between the buyer and seller the end of the story. >> was there ever a problem with this in the past? >> i never had a problem. every deal went pretty smoothly. you always had some issues, but never with the appraisal. >> and now? >> i will not say it happens on every deal, but probably one- third. >> a data on real estate sales confirms the trend. >> in 2004, there were 35,076 new pending contracts. the following month, november of 2004, beverage 7 and -- there were 736 finalized deals -- there were 35,076 finalized deals. but in october of this year,

2200 deals pending, but the the following month, 1600. appraisers are now following new and tighter rules to avoid the "anything goes" culture of the housing bubble. the information used to determine value have to account for a glut of foreclosures and short sales. it has hit all corners of the housing industry because people lost so much money when the bubble burst. >> we are seeing a lot of litigation, which is really making further those who wish to make loans on houses more skittish. >> and sellers be aware, the buyer may go for the price, but the bank may not. >> homeowners who want to refinance their mortgage are also seeing the effects of lower appraisals. bottom line, brace yourself. home values have taken a big hit and no one expects a significant

recovery anytime soon. >> it jane, thank you. and speaking of home values and where they are right now, they have plummeted over the past several years. data shows a 38% drop over just the past five years. in the metro area, the average median home down in 2007 topped $410,000. in 2008 it had dropped to almost 398 -- $398,000. it has now dropped even further. you can learn more act wbaltv.com -- learn more at wbaltv.com. >> the house passed a tax bill for workers, but the senate is stalling. >> this impasse has pushed both sides to the brink and once again is threatening and other

government shut down by the end of this week. >> mr. president, this has become a familiar scene on capitol hill. >> here we go again. time taking on another potential shutdown and -- the time is ticking on another potential shutdown. >> my friend is living in a world of non-reality. >> senate leaders turning friend into foe over this eighth bill the house passed to extend a tax credit for up to $260 million for working americans. senate democrats say the only way to compromise is to kill the bill and start over. >> i think we ought to have that vote and kill this christmas turkey. because it is a turkey. it is harmful to the middle class. >> they charge the measure as too many extras in it, like a proposed oil pipeline that would span the middle part of the

country. >> this pipeline has not won taxpayer dollar in need. it is privately funded and will create private industry jobs. >> but republicans are blocking a vote on the measure until they can vote on a spending package to keep the government running on friday. the end game remains unclear. >> should there be concerned? yes, but congress has a magical way of coming together at the last minute. >> so far, no magic worked out yet. we just heard from house speaker john boehner who told reporters that at this point there is no clear indication on how they plan to proceed. we are told he met today with the president at the white house to talk strategy. >> any word that -- of what might have come out of that white house meeting? >> right now, it is possible that democrats may concede of a bid to republicans as far as how this tax extension will be paid for.

-- may concede it to republicans a bit as far as how this tax extension will be paid for. nothing has been made official as of yet. >> thank you. >> switching gears, according to law-enforcement officials, incidents of domestic violence and suicide rise dramatically in the holiday season. earlier today, baltimore county officials held a news conference to let people know there is help out there. >> baltimore county police and health officials really wanted to drive home the link between stress, domestic violence, and holidays. as you said earlier today, we heard from lisa who lost her two children in 1999 to domestic violence. she said it is not only important to understand is signed, but knowing how to get help. >> it was september of 1999

when leases has been richard drove their two children to a bridge and killed them. >> he shot and murdered by two beautiful children. >> wednesday, she shared her nightmare once again to remind people of the horrors of domestic violence as we head into the holiday season. >> just within the last two months we have had several domestic related homicides in baltimore county. >> the county's chief says there is a noticeable rise in domestic violence around the holidays, as well as suicides. >> many of these offenses are committed by family members, loved ones, associate, people we have known and trusted for years. >> the rise in violent behavior around the holidays has a lot to do with added stress. >> during the holidays come our expectations change, our expectations of what we want to

give and what we want to receive. because of those, we do not cope well with those stresses during the holiday time. >> it is vital for people to take advantage of public services for exit -- for assistance. >> it took me eight years, but a lot of people do not wait that long because they realize there is a way out. they can see the light on the other side. and i hope that by speaking out, i show them that there is light they can go to. >> she says that she emphasizes just how important those lifelines of help can be. >> in my case especially, i did not want to read it was going on, and anyone who tried to help me i would push away. -- i did not want to admit what was going on, and anyone who tried to tell me what i would push away. -- to help me i would push away. >> 410-931-2214 is the number

for help. anyone who calls this line, even outside the county or the city, they will find a way to get your help. we also have helpful numbers and links at our website wbaltv.com. >> such an important story this time of year. tonight, police need your help in finding a man they say sexually assaulting a woman in glen burnie. the man in his sketch of mid a female victim and a bar last night. -- at a bar last night. he attacked her at around 1:30 a.m. he describes as 280 pounds with short, black hair and twists on top. he also has a tattoo on his neck and was seen last wearing a black leather jacket and tan pants. iyonna information, call metra crimestoppers at 1-866-7-lockup.

>> a truck that hit the i-95 bridge on monday with two feet taller than the legal limit. it damaged abn and catwalk. -- a beam and catwalk. there appears should be complete -- the repairs should be complete by spring. >> a teenager faces assault charges after a fight at chesapeake high school in baltimore county. police used pepper spray to restore order, which said some students to the hospital. there is an interview tonight with the school principal. >> those rush to area hospitals have all been treated and released. the principle is now working to repair the schools part -- the school's principal is now working to repair the school's reputation. >> a school resource police

officer used pepper spray to help restore order. fumes from the spray force more than 1000 students out of their buildings for 45 minutes. >> they were getting ready to leave to catch the bus behind me. it took place in a matter of seconds. >> extra workers spent the day on campus helping students sort out what took place on tuesday. >> they were very concerned about things that they had heard, that they read, the things that are not typical of chesapeake. some of their comments were that this has given us a bad reputation. >> a reputation that school officials are determined to change. in the meantime, school officials say that what happened at chesapeake is possible at any school. >> kids bring guns to school now and they do things that they see out in society. our biggest issue is what society does as a whole.

you see it as a microcosm in the classroom. >> and that is why that school has praised for the resource police officers. >> we're thrilled to have them in our school. >> especially in a time of crisis. the police -- aside from the police investigation, school administrators will conduct their own investigation of the incident. >> there's still more ahead. >> city officials reveal a new plan to make the inner harbor healthier. how they plan to make it swimmable and fishable in less than 10 years. >> and something they have not seen in the month, and it is good news. we will tell you more. >> warmer air is moving into the mid-atlantic region. the forecast is coming out. the forecast is coming out.

>> six weeks after a massive two-alarm fire ripped through this tavern, but repairs are underway. the owners have vowed to reopen. investigators say they may never know what sparked the flames that destroyed this historic building, but damage topped $2.5 million. the tavern is expected to reopen next fall. >> city officials said they have a new plan to unveil to make the inner harbor healthier. the goal is to make the harbor swimmable and fishable by the year 2020. a goal they say is attainable. >> it is a huge bowl, and if 2020 -- a huge bowl, but if 2020 sounds ambitious, it is. no plan is a good plan without a deadline.

we will clean up the harbor by 2020. >> the plan addresses major problems facing the harbor, including trash, sewage leaks, and storm water runoff. for a closer look, visit our website wbaltv.com and click on local news. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> high temperatures in the low 50's in mid december. that is a warmer weather pattern than normal for sure. it was barely below freezing this morning at b.w.i. marshall. the normal low should be the 20's. the record high was 20 degrees beyond where we are today. 71 on december 14 of 1929. the upper 40's to around 50 in the downtown baltimore area. those mild temperatures extend into southern pennsylvania.

columbia, 45 degrees. down toward the coast, upper 40's to near 50'. it is still relatively mild in and hancock.t berburg a warm front is making its way through the ohio valley and pushing toward new england there's very little snow associated with this december storm right now. some snow in the mountains, but around here, is warm. tonight will stay above normal. 35 to 45 degrees and mostly cloudy skies t. tomorrow will be a cloudy day,

but highs in the upper 50's. i would not be surprised if some places hit 60 tomorrow. some showers developing ahead of this front may develop into severe thunderstorms tonight into tomorrow. rain get here thursday afternoon into thursday night. the snow is off to the north and west. temperatures will begin to cool off friday afternoon. 40's around the region. skies should clear out saturday, but a lot colder into the weekend. tomorrow, 55 to 60 degrees. on the day tomorrow, a small craft advisory. gusting to 20 knots on the open waters of the bay, producing a two-foot drop. rain in the mountains tomorrow. much colder on friday, snow

showers in the area. it should stay quite chilly in the western maryland towns through the weekend. timarronnd after 50's eastern shore, mostly cloudy on friday. -- showers and upper 50's tomorrow on the eastern shore, mostly cloudy on friday. the sunshine saturday. a mix the clouds and sunshine on sunday. temperatures back to normal for the weekend. another round of rain coming monday night into tuesday next week. >> we're looking for holiday lights and decorations. it took all of november for frank to live up his house in cardville. that is quite a sight. and these -- this family put their twins to work helping to decorate the tree. you can share your photos on wbaltv.com, click on ulocal. we will pick a favorite and send you an ornament from us.

>> this is 11 sports. >> two years ago in san diego, ray lewis made the game saving tackle in the final minute of the game. now i'd looks like the ravens may have -- now it looks like the ravens may have lewis back for this sunday. even though the ravens have won all four of the past four games, they made it clear they would much rather have ray lewis on the field than the sidelines. we will have to see how he holds up after this week of practice before he gets the green light to play on sunday night. but it is good to see him back in action as they get ready for one of the biggest gains of the year. >> the way this machine works, we all know it starts at 52, then it trickles down to 20, and then myself, 95, 92. the machine works when we are all doing our part. hopefully, we get that key part

back this week. if not, the machine is going to keep trucking along. >> cornerback jarius web who also has a toe injury, did not practice today. many news stations have all agreed to nine-year agreements to retain their access to the game. each network will broadcast the superbowl during that same span. the network agreements will bring the nfl television revenues to an estimated $7 billion a year. typically, a college football program gets a makeover before a new coach's first season starts. not maryland. the offensive coordinator will not return after his first

season with the terps. and you can add adrian into the list of players who will not return next season. he is one of eight that will not be returning after their disappointing season. this has become a youtube sensation. a high school player from north carolina made defenders miss by dodging them like ki'yauhn a reece -- keanu reeves does in the matrix. that is impossible. stick around for the forecast. stick around for the forecast.

>> a 13-year-old boy is taking a unique approach to combating childhood obesity. however the court hospital is helping him to shed pounds and gain confidence. and a manhunt is on for this man. what he is accused of doing and what police are doing to

>> 50's for the high spirited it looks like will be pushing toward 60 tomorrow with showers moving in. fynn = off -- and then it cools off for the weekend with rain monday night into tuesday of next week. no winter weather on the horizon just yet, but we will keep watch. >> not bad at all. >> it will get here. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--